Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes parent involvement in school turnaround decisions, effective July 1, 2013.

Highlights:

• Authorizes parents of students who are assigned to a public school that has earned a school grade of “F” to submit a petition to the school district requesting implementation of a turnaround option (Sec. 2).

• Requires school districts to send a written notice to the parents of “eligible children” and the school advisory council 30 days after a public school has earned a school grade of “F” including, but not limited to, the following information (Sec. 5):
• A description of each turnaround option;
• A description of the process for implementing a turnaround option including the date by which the school must submit its plan to the State Board of Education; and
• The date and location of the publicly noticed district board meeting where the school board will consider the available turnaround options.

• Defines “eligible student” as a student enrolled in a school in which a turnaround option will be implemented or a student who is scheduled for assignment to that school the following school year (Sec. 5).

• Requires the State Board of Education to establish petition guidelines for parents including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 5):
• The parents of eligible children have at least 30 days after initial notification to gather petition signatures;
• The submitted petition may list only 1 turnaround option; and
• The turnaround option selected by parents must be considered for implementation by the school district at a publicly noticed district school board meeting.

• Prohibits a school from assigning an elementary school student to a teacher who received a performance evaluation of “needs improvement” or “unsatisfactory” if the student was assigned to a teacher who received the same performance evaluation in the previous year (Sec. 7).

• Prohibits a school from assigning a high school or middle school student to a teacher who received a performance evaluation of “needs improvement” or “unsatisfactory” in a specific subject if the teacher received the same performance evaluation in that subject in the previous year (Sec. 7).

• Authorizes a student enrolling in an extracurricular course to be taught by a teacher who received a performance evaluation of “needs improvement” or “unsatisfactory” if the student’s parent sends a written consent to the principle and receives an explanation of the impact of teacher effectiveness on student learning (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes parent involvement in school turnaround decisions, effective July 1, 2013.

Highlights:

• Authorizes parents of students who are assigned to a public school that has earned a school grade of “F” to submit a petition to the school district requesting implementation of a turnaround option (Sec. 2).

• Requires school districts to send a written notice to the parents of “eligible children” and the school advisory council 30 days after a public school has earned a school grade of “F” including, but not limited to, the following information (Sec. 5):
• A description of each turnaround option;
• A description of the process for implementing a turnaround option including the date by which the school must submit its plan to the State Board of Education; and
• The date and location of the publicly noticed district board meeting where the school board will consider the available turnaround options.

• Defines “eligible student” as a student enrolled in a school in which a turnaround option will be implemented or a student who is scheduled for assignment to that school the following school year (Sec. 5).

• Requires the State Board of Education to establish petition guidelines for parents including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 5):
• The parents of eligible children have at least 30 days after initial notification to gather petition signatures;
• The submitted petition may list only 1 turnaround option; and
• The turnaround option selected by parents must be considered for implementation by the school district at a publicly noticed district school board meeting.

• Prohibits a school from assigning an elementary school student to a teacher who received a performance evaluation of “needs improvement” or “unsatisfactory” if the student was assigned to a teacher who received the same performance evaluation in the previous year (Sec. 7).

• Prohibits a school from assigning a high school or middle school student to a teacher who received a performance evaluation of “needs improvement” or “unsatisfactory” in a specific subject if the teacher received the same performance evaluation in that subject in the previous year (Sec. 7).

• Authorizes a student enrolling in an extracurricular course to be taught by a teacher who received a performance evaluation of “needs improvement” or “unsatisfactory” if the student’s parent sends a written consent to the principle and receives an explanation of the impact of teacher effectiveness on student learning (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text